AhlulBayt News Agency (ABNA): Ahead of the holy month of Ramadan, Shahi Jama Mosque in the Sambhal area of India’s Uttar Pradesh state has formally submitted a request to local authorities seeking permission to install a loudspeaker inside the mosque. The application emphasizes full compliance with government rules and prescribed sound standards.
Zafar Ali, the head of Shahi Jama Mosque, submitted a written request to the Sambhal district magistrate and forwarded a copy to the district police chief, stating that during Ramadan, the sharp increase in the number of worshippers makes the use of a loudspeaker necessary to ensure that the imam’s voice reaches all congregants, particularly those standing in the rear sections of the mosque.
Referring to daily congregational prayers, Friday prayers, and occasions such as Jumu‘at al-Wida‘, he stressed that the mosque is seeking permission to install only one loudspeaker and remains fully committed to observing all relevant government regulations.
The request comes as the Shahi Jama Mosque in Sambhal has been under heightened scrutiny since November 2024, when a legal petition claimed the site had previously been a Hindu temple. Judicial proceedings at the time led to large gatherings, security challenges, and violent clashes in surrounding areas, resulting in multiple fatalities.
In February 2025, as part of a government campaign to curb noise pollution, loudspeakers were removed from this mosque and other mosques in the area, and broad restrictions were imposed on the use of audio equipment. Law enforcement authorities have said that court orders and existing laws will be implemented strictly and without exception.
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